As we look ahead to Teacher Appreciation Week, there are many professions that allow people to help children and families without leading a classroom. Marina Quilez recently opened The Little Gym on Hawley Lane, with a dream to help kids build their confidence and find joy and independence in an environment informed by teaching gymnastic skills.
Marina, born and raised in Madrid, Spain, studied Business as an undergraduate. Eventually her studies led her to San Francisco for her Master’s degree, and then she set her sights on Connecticut, the place she wanted to open her first business.
In an interview with Marina, she shared that being a business owner wasn’t what she set out to do with her life. “Before opening The Little Gym, I spent years in the tech industry working in marketing for a large corporation where I learned how to lead teams, solve problems, and create meaningful experiences. While I grew professionally during that time, I realized it wasn’t where my true passion was. I wanted to do something more meaningful,” she said.
The Little Gym is a franchise business with over 400 locations around the world. On its website, the gym is listed as the “world’s premier enrichment and physical development franchise for kids ages four months through 12 years.” For Marina, while she does not call Stratford home, it is the chosen home for her business. “I’m not a Stratford resident,” she said, “but I chose this community very intentionally. There is something truly special about Stratford. The families here are incredibly welcoming, supportive, and engaged.”
The Little Gym focuses on age appropriate activities, enrichment, and engagement as part of a membership-based program with a wide array of offerings of weekly classes that support physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development for ages 4 months to 12 years old. Marina and her colleagues offer a Parent Survival Night (drop the kids off, and leave them to have endless fun), birthday parties, camp when school is closed, and much more.
At a time when finding a job can be challenging, Marina is hiring and expanding her team. She and the team she already has in place would welcome a new colleague. The ideal person loves children, and she said, “Experience is helpful, but what matters most is attitude, reliability, and a genuine passion for making a difference in children’s lives.” She went on to say, “For students [college students], I would say this: your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. What matters is staying curious, working hard, and being willing to take a leap when the opportunity comes.”
Put your heart into what you do. Whether it’s a business, a career, or raising a family, the impact you make comes from the care and intention you bring every day. -Marina Quilez, owner of The Little Gym, Stratford.
